AAS (General Business), Mercer Country Community College (1991)
B.S. (Curriculum Development) Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (1993)
United States Army Logistics Management College (1994)
M.A. (Instruction) Central Michigan University (2000)
United States Army Command and General Staff College (2000)
New Jersey Expedited Certification for Educational Leadership (2009)
New Jersey District Council Assembly of God Ministry Program (2017)

Prior to entering full-time ministry serving as the Business Administrator at APTS, Ed held numerous positions serving in the US Army and in the Active Guard/Reserve Program for the New Jersey Army National Guard. He retired from active military service serving as the Assistant Chief of Staff for the New Jersey Army National Guard in his last military assignment managing a force structure of 7800 soldiers.

Ed became a technology high school teacher after retiring from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also served as a school administrator and assistant principal for Vineland City Public Schools in New Jersey. He holds numerous certifications in New Jersey as a teacher of the handicapped, social studies, general business, elementary education, supervisor, principal and administrator. Ed recently retired as assistant principal of D’Ippolito Elementary School and was assistant principal and administrator of Vineland High School.

Ed loves supporting his church and community. Ed and his wife Sherry, conducted church growth groups and held weekly prayer meetings for several years. Ed also performed on a praise and worship team. Ed was elected as a township committeeman and prior to this position, a township school board member. The school board appointed him to serve as School Board President. He also served as a member of a township zoning, planning, and veterans advisory board. He was also appointed as a deputy township emergency management coordinator.

Ed was called to serve full-time at APTS after being commissioned by the (AGWM) Assemblies of God World Missions in March 2017. Ed and his wife Sherry, lead two non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations through which they have taught, evangelized and ministered through the Spiritual Gifts of Healing, Prophesy, and Deliverance in Israel, Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Philippines and the United States.

Areas of Research Interest, Writings and Teaching

Ed has published numerous regulations, policies, standard operating procedures and operational orders while serving in the military. He also drafted bills for consideration in the State of New Jersey Legislature serving as a township committeeman. He developed curriculum for high school courses such as Graphic Design, Mass Media, Studio Production, Criminal Justice and Leadership. He also collaborated to develop dual credit high school courses where students could obtain college credits at Cumberland County College after completing selected high school courses. These courses were approved by the Vineland City School District and the Cumberland County College Board of Directors.

His teaching interests include teaching the Spiritual Gifts, Five-Fold Ministry, and the Jewish Roots of Christianity. Ed and his wife Sherry has produced and sponsored a Celebrate Israel Concert in Beijing, China performed by Joshua Aaron, and produced and sponsored Israeli-Philippine Festival concerts performed by Paul Wilbur in a five-city Philippine tour in Davao, Bacolod, Manila (MOA), Baguio, and Tuguegarao. They also sponsored and produced the World Camp for Jesus in 2015, 2016 and 2017 in Cambodia, Philippines and Israel, respectively. They also produced and sponsored various other Christian concerts in the Philippines, Cambodia, China, and the United States.

Family and Personal Interests

Ed and Sherry Benish have been married over 5 years. They have two children who reside in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Now retired from the US Army and public education, Ed enjoys serving at APTS and ministering following the leading of the Holy Spirit. He also likes to sing and play acoustic guitar worshipping the Lord, and praying and interceding for others.